UNC academic scandal: NCAA reportedly finds no rules broken

The NCAA has found that no rules were broken in the academic scandal at the University of North Carolina that reportedly involved football players taking no-show classes in the school's African and Afro-American Studies department, according to a statement from the university.

The statement reads in part:

“...Based on the joint review, UNC and the NCAA staff concluded there were no violations of current NCAA rules or student-athlete eligibility issues related to courses in African and Afro-American Studies. As a result, the NCAA did not add any allegations or include this issue during the University’s appearance in October 2011 before the Committee on Infractions.

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Karen Gil subsequently commissioned a review of courses in African and Afro-American Studies. In May, the University publicly issued that report and provided it to the NCAA.

On Aug. 23, 2012, University Counsel Leslie Strohm and Senior Associate Dean Jonathan Hartlyn provided an update to the enforcement staff. The NCAA staff reaffirmed to University officials that no NCAA rules appeared to have been broken..."

The apparent findings have been met with surprise by media members on Twitter.

[tweet https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/status/241557901985067008]

[tweet https://twitter.com/TheBigLead/status/241557467409047552]

[tweet https://twitter.com/DanWolken/status/241557028856795136]

An internal investigation by the university discovered that 54 classes in the Afro-American Studies were “suspect.” Yahoo! Sports columnist Pat Forde reported that one class last summer featured 19 students -- all current or former football players -- and required only one paper.

Among the discoveries made as the school, NCAA and reporters have taken a closer look at the program is that Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks should have been ineligible during his final year at UNC.